If you're not much of a cyclist and don't have a clue what I'm going on about but still wanna have a read, check out the link. Just click where it says "Cycling Terms". It tells you what all those words mean that you don't know.
Chur
So it's been almost 2 weeks now since I arrived in Belgium. And right now I'm feeling pretty grateful I have a recovery day on the programme today (while as Mother Nature's decided to throw down a bit of snow for the first time since I've been here. Looks like there'll be more to come tomorrow too.
Today's view from the lounge
Anyway, on the way over I managed to pick up some filthy bug but managed to shake it off a few days after setting up here. Hopefully that means I'll be bug free for a bit now.
The Belgie Stallion
The day after arrival we had team presentation which was a bit more low key than last year (as in there was no dude busting the robot on stage while accompanied by 50 groupies) but still a good night out.
PCT-Tomacc 2013
The flat's pretty tight. Got a big three storied place with 4 bedrooms and a huge commercial kitchen downstairs. We currently have 6 lads in the flat, 2 poms, a Korean and 3 kiwis...sounds like the start of a shit joke. The flat's just off the Centrum of Poperinge so it's an ideal location really...although we seem to have had a carnival on our doorstep for the last few days which goes all night. Still not quite sure what it's all about.
My Room
I've hit two kermesses so far but they haven't been the typical kermesses I remember from last year. Both have lacked any real wind so haven't been blown to pieces so I've just had two bunch finishes so far. Looks like our race on Wednesday could be more of a reat test so I'm looking forward to that.
January was a pretty hectic month of racing on the NZ racing scene. To finish off the month I headed up to Palmerston North for a 4 day tour known as NZ Cycle Classic (NZ's only UCI tour). Our team consisted of the usual L & M lads although for this race we rode for RICOH.
The Prologue was a battle with a lot of wind and a really rolly course. I felt pretty good but saved too much for the final kilometres after being warned about the brutal course. In the end I think I finished about 1:05 down on winner Joe Cooper riding for his Australian team Genesis Cycling.Our teams top rider was newly signed Nick Lovegrove.
Over the next few days we were tested by some typical Palmy crosswinds which caused some decisive splits. Unfortunately on stage 2, our team missed out on the break of about 12 who put over 10 minutes into the field shatter and hope we had of contesting General Classification. So after this we were forced to chase stage wins...that was until stage 4 when Grover told me to have a crack at the Under 23 Classification. I was pretty keen to try and pull a good result for the team and sponsors but had one small obstacle in my way...a mountain top finish (my specialty ;) ). As soon as I hit the climb I was instantly into body rocking mode trying to hang onto the front group. In the end I think I was 4th U23 up the climb putting me in 5th on U23 Classification.
So for the final stage my goal was to make the break and try to jump onto the U23 podium. I seemed to make every move apart from the decisive break. But in the end it came down to a bunch kick which I gave my best shot but ended up being cut off and had to back out slinking back to 8th place.
So the tour was a sweet way to crank up the Belgie build-up but unfortunately the team couldn't muster any big results. I do have to say a huge thank-you to Ricoh for sposoring myself and the rest of the team for the week...just wish I could have showed how much it means by giving you something to rave about! Also thanks to Backy from Armstrong Sport who was team bitch for the week...always a rough job!
Now I have 3 weeks left before departure to Europe where I'll be spending 7 months racing for CT Tomacc while being based in Poperinge, Belgium. Old man Chapman has me on a good looking programme that should have me hussing for Belge. Can't wait to get over tere and punish some Belgies who will be straight out of a brutal winter.
Also thanks to Eric who hooked me up with the new EMC Equipe R1.0 frame! It runs like a dream...check the new set up:
Well what can I say, the lack of blog posts says it all. Things have been pretty chaotic over the last few months...awesome but chaotic!
I've spent my summer putting in some big km's as well as working full time in the Nelmac Nursery. My jobs been pretty sweet just rocking round hanging flower baskets and mincing round the nursery. Couldn't have asked for a better summer job really. And best of all the boss is happy with my work and is keen to hook me up with a job next summer too. He's even mentioned helping me out with funding some papers in horticulture while I'm overseas this year. GC
On the riding front I've been all over the country and even across the ditch since being back. I rode the Chch Festival of Cycling, Tour of Southland, NSW GP, Tour de Vineyards, Elite Nationals and this week I'm heading up North for NZ Cycle Classic (NZ'S only UCI Tour). I've enjoyed being back racing with the L & M Group Racing lads and Canny...haha.
The crosswinds of Southland brought back some fond memories of Belgium...just hanging out in the gutter. I was feeling strong as an oxe but just lacked a bit of speed for the tour which ewas not suprising after spending most of my buildup climbing mountain passes in Switzerland! But hats off to teammate Joe Chapman who swept up the KOM jersey once again...why hasn't that old man just keeled over and died yet?
After Southland Canny offered me a trip to Sydney to race the NSW GP and I reluctantly agreed. So after a weeks off the bike I started some speed work for NSW. The crits themselves were an awesome experience racing some big names in Professional Cycling. Day 2 in Wollongong included a gruelling 600m course on top of a hill by the seas. To top it off there were huge gusts with winds on the coast measuring 80kmh! Needless to say the field blew to pieces in the first few laps. Overall teammate Gatey finished 3rd which was a mammoth effort for the level of racing! The trip was topped off with a big Sunday night out in Cronulla with the lads and a few other awesome kiwi lasses who also raced the crits.
Elite nationals...well thats another story. My job was to look after newly signed teammate Anthony Chapman. So while the rest of the team headed up the road we sat back and cruised in the pelo until we hit a little climb known as Dyers Pass. As expected the pace up the climb was high...so high I got a new max HR. Anyway, I was only just hanging on over the climb (sometimes had to chase on for up to 5km) but after 5 laps it became too much and I was dropped like a rock off the Empire State. Unfortunately Chappy suffered a similar fate after cramping up on the climb. Only 20 of the 80 starters finished and as nice as it would have been to be one of those few, I can't say my result was suprising. The level of racing was nothing to be snivelled at. Big shout out to GB though coming across the line with National Champion Hayden Roulston after an impressive ride (the vomit on his toptube says it all!)
So whats next for me? Well this week is NZCC which will be my last main race in NZ riding with L & M Group racing. And at the end of Feb I'll be heading over to Belgium to ride for the same team as last year (CT Tomacc) based in Poperinge West-Flaanders. This year the team has signed 10 international riders including NZ teammate Tom Francis and former Tomacc Teammate and kiwi Matt Wheatcroft.
I actually went to the doctors for a syphillus test (thats another story) a few weeks ago and the doctor said, "ahhh you were here at this time last year too." I asked what my problem was last year and she said I was suffering from fatigue. I remembered the dark place I was in at this time last year. Unfit, sick, no team lined up and ready to jack cycling in (so stoked I didn't). But it's no suprise that last years season was a bit up and down when you begin the year like that. So this year I'm in complete contrast. Motivation is through the roof, got some huge km's in the legs and I'm fizzing to get back to Belgium and tear up some Belgie roads...just gotta hang onto it for the next month or so!
Hope you enjoyed that little novel, I'll get the posts going a bit more frequently to keep you all up to date.
And good luck to all the kiwi riders already starting their seasons in Europe. I have max respect for all of you suffering the Euro winter.
